Mars Attacks!
“Nice planet. We'll take it!”
Synopsis
A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Official TrailerOfficial
Type: Trailer • Published 2025-12-04
Top Cast
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Jack Nicholson
President Dale / Art Land
Glenn Close
Marsha Dale
Annette Bening
Barbara Land
Pierce Brosnan
Donald Kessler
Danny DeVito
Rude Gambler
Martin Short
Jerry Ross
Sarah Jessica Parker
Nathalie Lake
Michael J. Fox
Jason Stone
Rod Steiger
General Decker
Tom Jones
Tom Jones
Lukas Haas
Richie Norris
Natalie Portman
Taffy Dale
Jim Brown
Byron Williams
Lisa Marie
Martian Girl
Sylvia Sidney
Grandma Norris
Paul Winfield
General Casey
Pam Grier
Louise Williams
Jack Black
Billy Glenn Norris
Release History & Theatrical Window
Hollywood, California
Festival / Special Debut
December 13, 1996
Wide Cinema Exhibition
March 31, 1997
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$70M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$101.4M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
1.45x
+$31.4M net gain
Theatrical Status
Budget Return
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Tim Burton
- Screenplay & Story
- Jonathan Gems
- Original Score
- Danny Elfman
- Original Title
- Mars Attacks!
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, French
- Runtime
- 1h 46m
- Production Budget
- $70M
- Worldwide Gross
- $101.4M
- Production Studios
- Warner Bros. Pictures, Tim Burton Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Tim Burton
Jonathan Gems
Danny Elfman
Peter Suschitzky
Chris Lebenzon
Larry Franco, Tim Burton
Department Leadership Roster
Larry Franco
Producer
Peter Suschitzky
Director of Photography
Colleen Atwood
Costume Design
Tim Burton
Director
Danny Elfman
Original Music Composer
Jonathan Gems
Screenplay
Wynn Thomas
Production Design
Tim Burton
Producer
Chris Lebenzon
Editor
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
International Certification Matrix
Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Suitable only for 12 years and over.
Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Mars Attacks!.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Mars Attacks!
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Mars Attacks! about?
A fleet of Martian spacecraft surrounds the world's major cities and all of humanity waits to see if the extraterrestrial visitors have, as they claim, "come in peace." U.S. President James Dale receives assurance from science professor Donald Kessler that the Martians' mission is a friendly one. But when a peaceful exchange ends in the total annihilation of the U.S. Congress, military men call for a full-scale nuclear retaliation.
Who directed Mars Attacks!?
Mars Attacks! was directed by Tim Burton.
Who stars in Mars Attacks!?
The principal cast of Mars Attacks! includes Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close, Annette Bening, Pierce Brosnan, Danny DeVito.
When was Mars Attacks! released and how long is it?
Mars Attacks! was released in 1996 with a total runtime of 1h 46m.
What was the box office and production budget of Mars Attacks!?
Mars Attacks! had a reported production budget of $70M and grossed $101.4M at the worldwide box office (1.45 return on budget, classified as a budget recovered).
Who composed the musical score for Mars Attacks!?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Mars Attacks! was composed by Danny Elfman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for Mars Attacks!?
Mars Attacks! holds official age classifications: AU: M (Mature — Recommended for viewers 15 and older.); CA: 14A; DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); FR: TP; GB: 12 (Suitable only for 12 years and over.); US: PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned — May contain intense action, language, or mature themes.).